Tour de France: looking better for '09

The TDF is starting to irritate me already. No sooner do I predict a victory for Leipheimer in the stage 20 time trial, they make the final meaningful stage a mountain climb with a summit finish, over a very hard Mount Ventoux. This definitely changes the race in favor of Contador. So now I must change my predictions for the race. (That's my right, it's my blog).
I am happy to see the Team Time Trial back in the Tour. And extremely happy that they did away with the penalty system used in '03 and '04.
This years TDF will also be a lot more friendly to the sprinters than it was in '08. With Robbie McEwen now on a team that will give him support in the flat stages, it won't be as easy for Cavendish as last year. I am looking forward to that rivalry.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot there's a biker named Armstrong in the Tour. Too bad, I don't think he can win, but it would be nice.
Anyway, here is my first of many prediction changes that will be made between now and July.
Yellow Jersey to Alberto Contador, 2nd place to Damiano Cunego and 3rd to Leipheimer.
Other names that will make there way into my pre-race predictions are: Valverde, Kreusinger, Andy Schleck.
Two names you won't see are Evans and Sastre! Evans still don't have a good team and Sastre lost his support when he left CSC for Cervelo.
Already getting excited. Going to be a good year for the Tour. Can't wait.